The Department of Transportation is investigating Delta Air Lines to ensure it is addressing consumer needs as the airline continues to cancel flights following last week’s global tech outage.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated on social media that all airline passengers have the right to fair treatment, and he is committed to upholding that right. Buttigieg noted that the department has received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the tech issues.
Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, has struggled to regain normal operations after a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike on Thursday disrupted businesses globally. This update caused problems with Microsoft’s Windows operating systems, leaving numerous corporate users without access and experiencing issues such as the notorious “Blue Screen of Death.”
The incident affected nearly every major industry, including healthcare, delivery, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports were among the hardest hit. On Friday alone, more than 46,000 flights were delayed and roughly 5,171 were canceled, according to FlightAware, with Delta facing the brunt of the impact.
Delta canceled approximately 3,500 flights on Friday and Saturday. The airline reported over 2,500 additional cancellations on Sunday and Monday, along with another 3,441 delays. By Tuesday, FlightAware indicated that 738 flights had been canceled or delayed.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret for the disruptions, emphasizing that canceling a flight is always a last resort. He acknowledged the difficulties passengers face when travel plans are altered. Bastian indicated that Delta relies on numerous applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including a crew tracking tool affected by the shutdown. To assist impacted travelers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and is providing meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.